Speeches by Vaughan.

“Why is that significant for the issues you are talking about?”

“Hello. I am Tony Vaughan, the MP for Folkestone and Hythe. I am a barrister. I am an associate tenant in Doughty Street Chambers. I also used to be in chambers with Mr Monteith, some years ago.”

“Good to see you. I would otherwise draw attention to my entry on the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.”

“Mr Monteith, you explored in your report the concept of merit in judicial selections. You criticised that mechanism as essentially embedding unfairness in the selection process rather than identifying genuine judicial potential. Could you explain to the Committee a bit more about what you mean? I read your criticism of…”

“Pausing there, I declare that I acted for Kate Thomas in the Court of Appeal before that hearing.”

“I practised as a civil lawyer for most of my career, and I have been challenging written reasons and decisions my whole career. I do not have a problem with judges issuing written reasons in the criminal jurisdiction. I think it is a way of getting more transparency about why those decisions have been made. That is my …”

“I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, which includes my status as a barrister. Let us remind ourselves of the issues here. It is unacceptable that criminal trials should be listed today for 2030. That is a failure of the state. It is a failure of the state to provide …”

“I acknowledge the considerable challenge that the Government have in winning back public confidence in the asylum system. The Home Office published a report last year concluding that there was insufficient evidence that restrictive asylum policies reduce claims, so will the Home Office publish evidence to show that cut…”

“I thank the Chancellor for her statement, which underlines the importance of new nuclear to boost our energy security. Many of us who back new nuclear also care deeply about nature. Dungeness in my constituency is both a nationally important habitat site and a vital location for new nuclear. Does the Chancellor agree t…”

“I thank the Prime Minister for his careful response to this issue and his ongoing commitment to the international rule of law. My constituent’s parents, Lindsay and Craig Foreman, are currently serving an appalling and unjustified 10-year sentence in Evin prison in Tehran. Other Governments have given detailed instruct…”

“My local workforce desperately needs new nuclear at Dungeness. Does the Secretary of State agree that the way we protect nature and habitats must be reformed in the way recommended by the nuclear regulatory taskforce, so that we better protect nature while also providing the skilled jobs and energy security that my con…”

“I completely agree. The common law sets its face against retrospectivity, and that principle should preclude this change. I want to address other elements of the consultation. The Government suggest a system of credits, for things including “social contribution”, to shorten the 10-year wait. On the face of it that soun…”

“I beg to move, That this House has considered e-petition 727372 and e-petition 746363 relating to indefinite leave to remain. It is always a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Edward. I open this debate on behalf of the Petitions Committee, and I am grateful to the 330,000 people who have signed these two peti…”

“I thank the petitioners, the 330,000 signatories and all hon. Members who have attended to speak in this debate over the last three hours. I have been struck by the fact that every single Back-Bencher who has spoken opposes the retrospectivity of the measures for those who are already here, on the basis that they under…”

“Can I thank the Prime Minister on his grown-up approach to the UK’s engagement with China? Can I also congratulate him on the agreement for a crackdown on manufacturers of small boat engines and parts, which directly impacts my constituency? Given that the Conservative party would not have even gone to China, does the …”

“I apologise, Ms Lewell.”

“I completely agree. It is the moving of the goalposts that most colleagues in the Chamber find really problematic.”

“I completely agree, and will go on to make those very points. That was the deal. The Government are now considering doubling the wait for settlement from five years to 10, and up to 15 years for care workers. One of the most contentious elements of the consultation is that that will apply to people who are already here…”

“The situation in the right hon. Gentleman’s constituency is similar to that in my constituency of Folkestone and Hythe, where there has been a long-term recruitment and retention crisis. As a coastal area, workers can only go one way. There are massive problems and, as he said, they will be worsened by this proposal.”

“I do agree, and that is the exact point I was going to make. Returning to the example I was just recounting, my mother attended this patient’s funeral, as she did for many. That shows that roles like hers are not just work; they provide a real service to the public. Her profession is extremely important during critical…”